Duchess Of Cambridge Dress Mistake

CLARENCE HOUSE has released a statement insisting that "no offence was caused" when the Duchess of Cambridge accidentally wore the incorrect state dress to atraditional party on the Solomon Islands on September 16.The royal couple intended to wear local garments from the island, but instead unintentionally wore pieces made in the Cook Islands - 3,000 miles away.

"We saw they weren't the same design of the traditional clothes we were told would be gifted, so we checked with the Solomon Islands government to ensure the right ones were worn.We were reassured the clothes were correct, and so the Duke and Duchess wore them to the event," said a spokesperson for Clarence House."It was not learned until later in the evening that the clothes weren't from the islands, but it was understood that the Duke and Duchess intended to wear traditional Solomon Island clothes and this was appreciated.No offence was caused."

The Duke and Duchess' arrival at the party in Honiara wearing the incorrect clothes - a pink tiered dress and a blue patterned shirt - was said to cause "incredible frustration" among their island hosts.Catherine's patterned strapless dress was by Cook Island's resident Ellena Tavioni, from her own label, Tav.

The mistake has been put down to an over-enthusiastic member of the island's welcoming committee, named as Kethie Sunder, who laid out the wrong clothes in the couple's suite.

"We are incredibly frustrated that this situation has come about and see Kethie as entirely to blame," said a Government House official of the Solomon Islands."It was completely inappropriate for her to go to their Royal Highnesses' room, which she filled with various things, causing confusion."